SOVA: Lucia Hartini

Did my Lucia Hartini assignment over the weekend and just submitted it to Mrs tan!
(This essay is by no means a model essay, no guarantee that information is 100% accurate. Click "Read More>>" for the essay)

Srikandi (1993)

Oil on canvas, 150 x 150 cm

Lucia Hartini

1a)  Describe the use of space, colour and brushwork

In “Srikandi”, Lucia Hartini makes use of contrasting colours - tertiary colours, as well as various hues of rich blue. She emphasises on contrast in her work, juxtaposing the rich indigo clothe of Srikandi with her tan golden-brown skin, and the reddish-brown brick walls. The blue drapery is symbolic as it was what members of historical women’s armies, that protected the Sultans of feudal Central Java, typically wore. This contributes to the message of the painting, that Srikandi (or Hartini herself), was someone powerful. She also makes use of white to highlight certain areas of the drapery and skin to indicate direction of light, and she uses darker tones to indicate shadows cast by light, in these places as well. The bright, stunning colours result in the painting becoming one of optimism and confidence, with a bold story to tell.

The use of space is rather unrealistic, with the work seeming very crammed as Srikandi is between two closely-built walls, yet with the distant view of the sky and clouds at the top-left corner. This shows that the composition of this work was based on Hartini’s imagination, probably an influence of Surrealism. The figure of Srikandi takes up more than half of the work, allowing Hartini to put more emphasis on her lines, her stance, her confidence, and her superiority. This all aids in the portrayal of her message that Srikandi was a strong and powerful woman figure. The walls stretch up to the top the painting, creating a sense of depth

The brushwork is largely smooth and fluid, almost invisible and well blended. This makes the work very realistic, even with its highly imaginative composition and subject. Hartini has meticulously painted even the strands of hair or creases in the drapery, such that they are clear to the viewer. They are dynamic in the sense that they lead the viewer’s eye through the painting so smoothly, allowing the viewer to feel like he or she were in a trance.

b)  Comment on the influences behind this work

Srikandi is influenced by many factors. Firstly, the woman in the painting is Srikandi, a mythical warrior woman character from the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. In this painting, Lucia Hartini has painted Srikandi as a representation of herself, of her personal emotions and of her growth as a woman in society. Lucia Hartini is but one woman in Indonesia’s society to feel strongly that women have the ability to fight for their rights for a place in this world. Therefore, through the means of the iconic woman figure, Lucia could symbolically present her opinions on the society, without causing uproar in the society.

The rays of eyes at the right-hand corner of the painting hold great significance. Lucia Hartini is known to repel the critical and doubting eyes of society, and watchful eyes in her paintings often indicate a sense of terror and lack of privacy and free-will. In Indonesia, majority of the women are prisoners of tradition, having to play the traditional role of a mother, caring for the children at home and not getting a chance to express herself freely, with fear of the society’s watchful eye. Thus, this can be said to have influenced Lucia to depict Srikandi staring back at the eyes, controlling the eyes, no longer being subjected to the gaze of others. In other words, she hopes to convey the message that she herself is now confident and daring enough to stand up for herself in society, surpassing the norms of society.

The brick walls are probably influenced by the restrictions of the society, especially when it comes to sexism and male superiority. However, in the painting, Srikandi stands tall and is not overcome by these closely-built walls, exuberating confidence and conviction.

Lastly, this work is also influenced by the Western art movement, Surrealism. It explores past the boundaries of reality, depicting a highly imaginative environment in the background. Surrealism has also influenced the choice of colours and meticulous brushwork in Srikandi.